(SFLA) Students for Life of America (SFLA) filed an amicus brief in the case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Food & Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, that focuses on the harms of chemical abortion pills to women and young girls in particular, along with reasons to rethink the reckless approval process. SFLA’s 32-page brief discusses the way in which potential harms to endangered species were also ignored.
“Five times the FDA failed to determine whether their increasingly lax health and safety standards for the deadly drugs might cause harm to endangered species,” noted SFLA President Kristan Hawkins. “On behalf of the Youth Vote, a generation motivated to protect the environment, we must rethink the lax and fast-tracked approval of deadly Chemical Abortion Pills.”
“The Endangered Species Act requires federal agencies to follow certain restrictions when undertaking “actions” that may harm listed species or habitats. This process has been thoroughly litigated and set out since 1973 and no federal agency is exempt from its provisions. Despite this, on at least five occasions the Food and Drug Administration did not conduct the statutorily required consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) and National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) (collectively, “Services”) as it relates to Mifepristone …
“The current list of endangered species recognized by the Services contains nearly 1,500 different species and can be found on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s website. Multiple endangered species may be affected by the approval of Mifepristone, but the extent is unknown due to the FDA’s failure to consult as required by Section 7 of the ESA.”
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This week, 40 pro-life leaders signed onto a letter drafted by Students for Life Action along with SBA Pro-Life America that calls on Congress to demand that the EPA track the forever chemicals in Chemical Abortion pills as part of their new initiative.
In the letter to Congress, the leaders note that no effort has been made to understand the environmental impact of the Biden Administration’s Chemical Abortion Policy. They write:
“The safety of America’s drinking water demands that deliberate pollution be addressed, and pollutants tracked to the best of our nation’s ability. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun monitoring a list of “forever chemicals” – substances that linger in America’s drinking water and are determined to pose a risk to those exposed the them. In a recent letter sent to the EPA, Students for Life of America explained, “In recent years, and largely in 2023, the EPA has increased its efforts to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). With rulemaking, guidance, published initiatives, newly established pollution standards, and more, the EPA has addressed concerns of pollution as a result of PFAS being released on large scales into the environment. The EPA’s increased understanding of the environmental harms these chemicals create has led it to take a closer look at the issue and ultimately implement new strategies and regulations to control the release of PFAS and monitor their impact more carefully. In implementing these new initiatives, the EPA has shown a commitment to monitoring and controlling the effect that a constant stream of chemicals and harmful substances – no matter how small those substances may be – may have on the environment.”
“In light of this effort, we urge you to direct the EPA to conduct regular and comprehensive environmental testing for the presence of the abortion drug mifepristone in the same manner as testing is conducted for “forever chemicals” or PFAS chemicals.”
Students for Life Action and Students for Life of America have raised the issue of environmental justice and abortion for more than six years, with four citizen petitions filed at the FDA demanding that the harms of abortion to the preborn, women, endangered species, and water be addressed.
Earlier this year, SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement/YouGov poll found that MORE THAN 9 IN 10 registered youth voters supported health and safety standards for the deadly drugs as well as environmental protections.
From the Executive Report:
“ON PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT: Women taking the abortion pills are instructed to flush the products of the abortion (placenta, the human embryo or fetus, blood) in the toilet. This healthcare or medical waste can be “hazardous if not disposed properly.” Additionally, given how one of the abortion pills (misoprostol) is administered/inserted, some of that medication could be passed into the toilet as well (see this website). All of this could then pass to the wastewater system, potentially affecting the fertility of animals and fish, according to an article by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“Asked about the importance of conducting studies on the potential environmental impact of waste and drugs related to abortion, more than 9 in 10 (91%) said that it was somewhat to extremely important to have environmental testing, with 37% saying extremely important – up from 30% last year.
“ON REQUIRING THE SAME KIND OF STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL FOR ABORTION AS FOR OTHER MEDICAL WASTE: In doctor’s offices, clinics, and hospitals, medical waste of all types is collected in red or yellow bags and containers for medical waste to dispose of properly. These bags/containers are also sometimes used in the home setting, for the placenta from at-home births, for miscarriages, and to collect kidney stones, among other reasons. Considering the environmental impact noted above, how important is it to require those who distribute abortion pills to also provide medical bags/ containers to collect the products of abortion and return to the provider for disposal?
“9 in 10 supported requiring Red Bag Medical Waste disposal of the chemically tainted blood, placenta tissue, and human remains from abortion, with 33% saying this was extremely important, up from 30% last year.”
Editor's note: Kristi Stone Hamrick is chief media strategist and spokesperson for Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action. This article was published by Students for Life of America and is reprinted with permission.
